Dispensing device



Filed Aug. 29, 1949 2 SHEET -SHEET 1 4 v m I 6 ETQW E: WW 5* E QJ? 1: 2;A: m. I n mg m 4 u- RM 2 8 3 2 I. M w I A r J My 3 s m W Q.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSINGDEVICE Earl W. Miner, Denver, 0010. Application August 29, 1949, SerialNo. 112,941

This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to adispensing pump for liquids such as lubricating oil.

One of the objects of the inventionis to provide a lubricating oildispenser for automobile service stations which is operated by'airpressure.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of the foregoing type which maybe installed in a present type of oil tank, replacing the manuallyoperated pump employed therewith.

Another object is to provide a dispenser which may be installed in oiltanks of diiierent heights.

Another object is to provide a double acting expansible chamber airmotor which operates a piston type dispensing pump.

A further object is to provide the expansible chamber motor with asimplified control device which effects operation of the pump;

Further objects are to provide a dispensing device which is simple inconstruction, economical of manufacture, accurate in dispensing apredetermined quantity, and foolproof in operation.

Still further objects, advantages, and salient features will become moreapparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appendedclaims, and'the accompanying drawing, in which: t

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the dispensing device shown installedon a conventional oil tank; 7

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the device taken online 2-2, Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3--3, Figure 2, a portion beingbroken away;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Figure .2; i

Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c are enlarged sections taken on line 5--5, Figure3, showing the control valve in various operative positions; Figure 6 isa section taken on line 6B, Figure 2; and t Figure '7 is a Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the device comprises in general, adouble acting expansible chamber air motor ill, a single "acting oildispensing pump device II, a delivery tube 12, and a control and supportdevice 13 for actuating the air motoras desired. Air-motor ll] comprisesa cylindrical'tube I 4' having its upper end threadedly engaging thecontrol "and Support device 13 which forms the upper cylinder head ofthe tube and also containscertain valve mechanism which will be sectiontaken on line 1-1,

5 Claims. (Cl. 222-334) hereinafter described, The lower end of thecylindrical tube, or air cylinder I4, is provided with a cup shapedcylinder head l5 which threadedly engages the lower end of the tube andcloses same. A piston I6 is slideably mountedin the air cylinder andisprovided with an O-ring I! to prevent leakage of air past the piston.O-rings are formed of rubber, toroidal in shape, fitting within arectangular groove, as is well known in the art of piston seals. An oil)resisting material is employed, such as neoprene. A piston rod I8 issecured at its upper end to piston IS in any suitable manner, such as bythreaded connection |9, and extends downwardly through the lowercylinder head, a similar 0,-ring' 28 being employed to prevent airleakage from the cylinder. It will be apparent that the constructionjust described provides a chamber 2! above the piston and a chamber 22below it and that the piston may be reciprocated by the application ofair under pressure to one or the other of these chambers.

Oil dispensing device I l comprises a cylindrical tube 23 having a cupshaped cylinder head 24 threadedly engaging its upper end, this cylinderhead having a plurality of apertures 25 therein which permit freeingress and egress of oil through the cylinder head. The cylinder headis apertured at its center and slideably receives piston rod'l8, theprincipal purpose of this cylinder head being to guide the pistonrod.The lower end of piston rod IBis connected to a piston'l'fia. similar topiston I 6 which is provided with an O-ring Ila, similar to ring H. Thelower end of cylinder 23 threadedly engages a cylinder head 26 which isprovided with an intake check valve 21, disposed in a passageway 28having a valve seat 29. A snap ring 30, or any" other suitable abutmentmember may be provided to retain the check valve within the passageway.The cylinder head 26 is provided with a boss 3| which contains an outletcheck valve32, this valve'being disposed in a passageway33 whichcommunicates with lower chamber 34 of the oil dispensing device.

Deliverytube I2, previously'referred to, is secured at its lower end tobo'ss 3| and at its upper end to control device l3, by threaded connections as shown, or in any other manner which will become apparent tothose skilled in'the art of pipe connections. A split clamp 35, in theform of a band, (see Figures 2 and 6) engages cylinder 2.3 and pipe l2,and is drawn together by a suitable bolt 36.

The lower end of tank r is provided with a U-shaped strap 31 having anaperture 38 therein, this strap being provided on the tank for receivingthe lower end of the dip tube of the pump device which this inventionreplaces. This strap is utilized to restrain the lower end of thedispensing device from lateral movement, a cylindrical projection 39being provided on cylinder head 26, of the same size as the dip tubereferred to. The dispensing device is restrained from verticalmovementby pipe |2, andclamp 35 also aids in retainin'g the dispensing device inits proper fixed position.

Control device l3, previously referred to, is a plate-like member havingapertures which receive screws S, the latter securing this member to theupper surface of tank T. The shape of the lower surface of this memberand the arrangement of the screw apertures is the same as thecorresponding member of the hand operated pump which this inventionreplaces, so that no changes are required in the securing structure ofthe tank.

The control device I3 is provided with an upstanding boss 40 in which isrotatably mounted a frusto conical valve 4| (see Figure 4), the latterhaving a valve stem 42 to which is connected an operating lever 43. Apacking 44 is disposed around the stem and'is compressed as desiredby'pack nut 45, this construction preventing air leakage along thestem.-

A horizontal air channel o port 46 communicates at one end with the leftend (Figure 4) of valve 4| and at its other end with a vertical part 41which communicates with chamber 2| Valve 4| is provided with a port 48,extending longitudinally of the valve which communicates at one end withport 45 and at its other witha transverse port 49 (see Figures a, 5b,50). A cross port 50 is alsov provided in the valve which is disposed inthe same transverse plane as port 49. Four ports are disposed within thebOSs 40 in 90 relationship to the valve, these being an air supply port5|, a bleed port 52, a second bleed port 53, and a port 54 whichcommunicates with chamber 22 by pipe 55, the lower end of which connectswith cylinder-head |5 (Figure2).

Assuming that chamber 34 is full of oil and lever 43 is moved to theposition shown in Figure 5a, air from pipe 5|a will enter port 5|, port49, port 48, port 43, and poi-t4! to chamber 2| thus forcing piston |5downwardly and thus delivering oil from chamber 34 to deliverytube l2.Cross port 50 is now communicating with bleed port 53 and port 54 whichconnects with pipe 55 to lower chamber 22. Thus, as piston l6 descends,the air in chamber 22 is exhausted or bled to atmosphere; When pistonIlia reaches the bottom of its stroke lever 43 is moved to the positionshown in Figure 5?). Air now enters port 5|, cross port 53, port 54 andpipe 55 which delivers air to'chamber 22, forcing ipiston l6 upwardly.Simultaneously, ports 52, 49, 48, 46, and 41' are in seriescommunication and air is bled from chamber 2|. When piston I6 reachesthe .top of its stroke lever 43 may be moved to the position shown inFigure 5a if it be desired to dispense another predetermined quantit ofoil.

While not essential to the invention in its broadest aspect, it isdesirable to shut off the air supply when the device is to remaininoperative for any considerable length. of time. For this purpose, athird positionof valve 4| is shown in Figure 50. In this position itwill be observed that valve 4| has been rotated counterclockwise aslight amount from that shown in Figure 5b. In this position port 5! isclosedand cross port 50 communicates with port 54 and a small bleedgroove 56, the upper end of which communicates with bleed port 52. Thispermits air in chamber 22 to be exhausted or bled to atmosphere.

The valve may be provided with any suitable means to locate the threepositions of lever 43 such as a spring urged detent 51, which engages insuitable depressions '58 in the valve, it being understood that when thevalve is in one of the positions shown in Figures 5a, '5b,"or 5c, thedetent will be aligned with a corresponding detent depression in valve4|. Suitable stop means may also be provided to limit movement of thevalve beyond the extreme positions of the detent depressions so that anoperator may not inadvertently move the valve beyond either extremeposition. This structure has been omitted in the interests of claritysince it will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Delivery tube l2, previously described, delivers oil to a gooseneckextension |2a which is secured at one end to control device i3. As shownin Figure 7 the nozzle end 59 is provided with a check valve 50 which isnormally held on a seat 6| by a spring 62. The lower end of nozzle 59may be provided with a plurality of ridges 63 which provide a brokensurface which effects adherence of oil thereto, thus eliminatingdripping at the nozzle after dispensing is completed.

The oil dispensing device is constructed to have a volume of exactly onequart since this is the customary unit of dispensing lubricating oil. Itmay, of course, have any otherpredetermined unit of volume such as aliter, gallon, etc. If desired, it may be made adjustable to properlycalibrate it by utilizing an adjustable stop screw to regulate thelength of stroke or piston IBa.

To render the unit installable'in tanks of different heights it is onlynecessary to choose a piston rod of proper length and provide acorresponding length of pipe l2, all other parts remaining the same. Itbecomes apparent, therefore, that the unit may be installed in presenttanks, utilizing the support 3'! at the bottom, and the same flangeholes at the top, without changing the tank, and tanks of differentheight will require only the selection of the proper length of pistonrod and oil delivery pipe.

It will'now become apparent that many modifications will all within thepurview of the invention. The control valve, for example, may be anysuitable type of valve, other than rotary, which will perform the samefunction. While it has been found expedient to utilize delivery pipe |2to hold the oil dispensing device II in proper position, it will beapparent that a suitable spacer could be employed between cylinder headsl5 and 24, in which case delivery pipe l2 could be made either rigid orflexible. While the device is described for use in dispensinglubricating oil it will be apparent that it may have utility indispensing other liquids besides hydrocarbons. The various other detailsare to be regarded as exemplary only and the spirit of the invention tobe determined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Apparatus comprising a lubricating oil tank having substantiallyparallel upper and lower walls, a relatively large aperture in its upperwall, an upstanding member secured to the lower wall on the inside .ofthe tank having a relatively small aperture therein, the axis of thesmall aperture being parallel to that of the large aperture, a liquiddispensing unit having a support member at its top including a flangesecured on the upper surface of the tank, other portions of the unitextending through the large aperture and into the small aperture, saidliquid dispensing unit including an air motor and a predeterminedquantity oil dispensing pump operated thereby both disposed within thetank and interposed between said flange and the small aperture, manuallyoperated means for controlling operation of the air motor, and conduitmeans connected with the predetermined quantity oil dispensing pumpdisposed outside thereof having an end terminating above the tank inspaced relation thereto adapted to discharge oil downwardly into areceptacle.

2. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising; a .ipport and control deviceadapted to be secured on a substantially horizontal upper wall of atank, an air motor cylinder disposed substantially vertically having itsupper end secured to said device, an oil dispensing cylinder disposedbelow the air motor cylinder in axial alignment therewith, bothcylinders adapted to be disposed within a tank, a piston in each of thecylinders, a piston rod connecting the pistons, an oil delivery pipedisposed outside of the cylinders having its lower end secured to theoil dispensing cylinder and its upper end secured to the support andcontrol device, an oil delivery pipe extending upwardly from saidsupport and control device having its lower end in communication withsaid first named delivery pipe and its upper end terminating in adownwardly ranging portion adapted to deliver liquid downwardly into areceptacle, a check valve operatively associated with the end of the oildispensing cylinder below its piston, adapted to open when its pistonmoves upwardly and remain closed when its piston moves downwardly, anormally closed check valve disposed within the downwardly rangingportion of the second named delivery pipe adapted to open when oil isbeing dispensed, a check valve disposed near the lower end of the firstnamed delivery pipe adapted to open when oil is being dispensed andclose when the piston of the oil dispensing cylinder is inoperative,whereby the first and second named delivery pipes will remain full ofliquid at all times, an air control valve carried by said support andcontrol device, a pressure source of air supply, conduit meansconnecting said air control valve with the upper and lower ends of theair motor cylinder associated with the valve in such manner that whenthe valve is in one position the piston of the air motor cylinder movesupwardly, and in another position moves downwardly, and manual means forselectively operating said valve between the two positions.

3. Apparatus comprising; a conventional oil dispensing tank of the typehaving substantially parallel top and bottom walls, the top wall havingan opening for receiving a hand operated pump, a plurality of boltreceiving apertures in the top wall spaced angularly aboutthe openingfor securing the hand operated pump on the top wall, the bottom wallhaving upstanding means secured to its upper surface having an aperturetherein for receiving the lower end of a dip tube depending from thepump, the combination with said tank, of a replacement power operatedoil dispensing unit having a support member secured on top of the tankby bolts extending into said bolt receiving apertures, an air motorhaving a cylinder disposed within the tank and depending from saidmember, an oil dispensing pump having a cylinder disposed below thecylinder of the air motor, means on the lower end of the unit engagingthe means for receiving the lower end of the dip tube for preventinglateral movement of the lower end of the unit in the tank, a piston inthe cylinder of the air motor, a piston in the cylinder of the oildispensing pump, a piston rod interconnecting the two pistons, an oildischarge pipe extending from the oil dispensing cylinder upwardlyadapted to discharge oil through said support member, manually operatedcontrol means including a valve carried by said member and interposedbetween a source of air under pressure and the air motor adapted tocontrol operation of the latter.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means on the lowerend of the unit comprise a cylinder head secured to the lower end of thecylinder of the oil dispensing pump having a downwardly extendingprojection disposed within said aperture in said upstanding means.

5. Apparatus comprising; a conventional oil dispensing tank of the typehaving substantially parallel top and bottom walls, the top wall havingan opening therein for receiving a hand operated pump, a plurality ofbolt receiving apertures in the top wall spaced angularly about theopening for securing the hand operated pump to the top wall, thecombination with said tank, of a replacement power operated oildispensing unit having a support member secured on top of the tank bybolts extending into said bolt receiving apertures, an air motor havinga cylinder disposed within the tank, the upper end of the cylinder beingsecured to and depending from said member, an oil dispensing pump havinga cylinder disposed within the tank adjacent the bottom Wall thereof andbelow the cylinder of the air motor, a piston in the cylinder of the airmotor, a piston in the cylinder of the oil dispensing pump, a piston rodinterconnecting the two pistons, an oil discharge pipe disposed outsideof both cylinders communicating the oil dispensing cylinder with adischarge nozzle outside of the tank adapted to discharge oil downwardlyinto a receptacle, and manually controlled means carried by said membermovable between two positions and including a valve interposed between asource of air under pressure and the air motor, adapted to selectivelyactuate the pistons in one direction or the other in response tomovement to said positions.

EARL W. MINER.

REFERENGES CE'EED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 368,983 Thompson Aug. 30, 1887552,158 Wallingford Dec. 31, 1895 1,527,061 Munson Feb. 17, 19251,767,354 Eastes June 24, 1930 1,776,416 Cornell Sept. 23, 19301,893,464 Barks Jan. 3, 1933 1,953,222 Gordon April 3, 1934 1,984,005Young Dec. 11, 1934 2,168,493 Plews Aug. 8, 1939 2,235,544 Wold Mar. 18,1941 2,284,316 Glass May 26, 1942 2,352,958 Louer et al. July 4, 19442,357,029 Smith Aug. 29, 1944 2,387,234 Clapp Oct. 23, 1945

